The U.S. is preparing a major $2.8 billion arms package for Israel
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sell Israel a large package of military equipment worth $2.8 billion. According to Reuters, it may include tens of thousands of high-powered air bombs of two types. The planned deal has already been informally communicated to the relevant committees in the U.S. Congress.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sell Israel a new $2.8 billion package of military equipment. The bulk of the deal may consist of high-explosive bombs. The source spoke on condition of anonymity. According to him, the future package will include tens of thousands of bombs. Specifically, it involves two types of munitions. The planned deal calls for the sale of:
- 20,000 MK 84 bombs;
- 20,000 BLU-117 bombs.
U.S. congressional committees responsible for overseeing major sales of American weapons abroad have already been informally briefed on the potential deal. However, this is currently only a planned deal, not a completed sale. The U.S. administration must complete the necessary procedures before the contract is finalized.
What is known about the upcoming deal
The MK 84 is a U.S.-made heavy aerial bomb. It is classified as munition with a large amount of explosive material and significant destructive power. The BLU-117 is also a powerful aerial bomb. It is used as munitions for striking ground targets. Thus, if the deal is approved and implemented, Israel will receive a large quantity of heavy aerial bombs from the U.S.
Reuters notes that the Trump administration’s plans were revealed by a U.S. official, so some details of the deal remain unofficial for now. The total cost of the planned package is $2.8 billion. The information provided does not include details on possible delivery dates. The U.S. remains one of the key suppliers of military aid and weapons to Israel. The new deal could become yet another large-scale contract between the two countries. Reuters reports this, citing a U.S. official familiar with the plans.
